DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband salts his food even before he tastes it. He says he doesn’t have high blood pressure and doesn’t have to stay away from salt. His entire family takes medicine for high blood pressure. I tell him that he will have to take it, too, if he doesn’t stop using so much salt. Am I right? – F.W.

ANSWER: The salt story involves some confusing terms. Salt is sodium chloride. The sodium part of sodium chloride is the atom that causes trouble, so salt is often simply referred to as sodium. People on a “salt” restricted diet have to pay attention to sodium in other forms, like monosodium glutamate and sodium bicarb.

About one-quarter of the population is salt-sensitive. That means that those people’s use of salt speeds the onset of high blood pressure. Of people who have high blood pressure, one-half are salt-sensitive. They can lower their blood pressure by limiting their use of salt. Your husband comes from a family that is rife with high blood pressure. Most likely he is salt-sensitive, and he would do well to cut back on its use.

Salt causes fluid retention, and that’s one way it contributes to blood pressure rise. It also triggers the release of hormones that elevate blood pressure.

All of us eat too much salt. Recommendations for the general public call for keeping the total daily salt intake to around 3,800 mg (1,500 mg of sodium). One teaspoon of salt is 5,000 mg (2,000 mg sodium). Readers are saying, “I don’t eat a teaspoon of salt a day.” They don’t. But they get 80 percent of their salt intake in foods they don’t realize are loaded with it, like luncheon meats, hot dogs and commercial soups. Salt added to food from the saltshaker puts almost everyone far past the recommended daily limits.

The pamphlet on sodium, potassium and other minerals discusses these topics in depth. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 202, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.50 U.S./$6.50 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.